From what I have seen of confiscated alligator hides, no. Scores of thousands of dollars of illegally harvested alligator have rotted in government warehouses, necessitating more expensive and wasteful legal work to recover. Much of that wine is lost, I suspect. (and if the public catches wind of the Feds spending money to keep the wine properly, they'll howl about elitism).

Pennsylvania is one of, if not *the* last of the states where the ONLY authorized retailer is the State of Pennsylvania itself. If the state does not authorize and stock the wine, it becomes exceedingly difficult to obtain -- unless, of course, one drives to New Jersey, or buys the wine illegally from a lawyer (apparently).

It's a money maker for the state, despite the high wages for State Store employees. The stores are stark and often poorly stocked. They don't sell beer. Beer is bought in bars by the 6-pack or in beer stores by the case. It is effectively a communist system.

Or are you speaking metaphorically? Distilled spirits, wine, beer -- even kvass (квас) and samogon (самого́н) -- ALL cost rubles in the Soviet Union! (Unless, of course, you were a foreigner, or had special papers that permitted normally banned Soviet citizens to shop in a beryozka [Берёзка], in which case -- yes! -- you WOULD pay in dollars!)

the state stores have gotten a lot better in the last few years, actually. There are even a few really knowledgeable employees (only a few) and the new stores are much nicer.I've also learned that what a store stocks has a lot to do with the employees of that store, so if one finds a good employee and sticks with her store it can be ok-ish (though this is in Philadelphia at "Premium Collection" stores so it may not apply in Altoona)

OK, so there are approx. 116 outlets where you can buy wine (grape and/or fruit) off sale *besides* a state store . . . I stand corrected.

;^)

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Just for the sake of accuracy, Pennsylvania produced 3,589,603 gallons, or 0.476%, of the still (i.e.: non-sparkling, non-flavored, non-fortified) wine¹ made in the US in 2012. That's enough to put PA in 5th place in terms of volume.

__________¹ What I don't know is if these figures *only* count grape wine, or if fruit wines are also included.

1. Alabama: (Liquor stores are state-run or on-premise establishments with a special off-premise license.) In other words, there are non-state owned establishments that can sell retail.

2. Idaho (Maintains a monopoly over sales of beverages with greater than 16% ABV.) In other words, fortified wines, like Port & Sherry, and distilled spirits are sold in state stores; beer, table wine, and sparkling wines are not.

3. Iowa (Does not operate retail outlets.) In other words, they don't sell directly to consumers.

4. Maine (State-contracted to private businesses for commission) In other words, private businesses sell to consumers.

5. Maryland (Under state law the counties of Montgomery, Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester are county alcohol controlled which mandates that off-premise liquor sales are to be conducted only at county owned and operated dispensaries/stores. One exception exists in Montgomery County, four grocery stores had their licenses grandfathered prior to the change of the law.[4] Until recently Dorchester County was an alcohol control county until the County Council voted to permanently shutter the county owned liquor dispensaries.) In other words, it's complicated . . . .

6. Michigan (Does not operate retail outlets; maintains a monopoly over wholesaling of distilled spirits only.) in other words, they do not sell to the public, nor do they control the wholesale sales of beer or wine.

8. Montana (State-contracted liquor stores, modeled after the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission)[5] In other words, it's like Maine.

9. New Hampshire (Beer and wine can be sold at supermarkets & convenience stores; spirits and liqueurs are sold only in state-run liquor stores.) In other words, private stores -- from gas stations to supermarkets, AND wine merchants -- sell beer and wine. You want whiskey? Go to a state-owned store.

10. North Carolina (Beer and wine can be sold in supermarkets and convenience stores; other spirits must be sold in liquor stores owned by local ABC boards. The State ABC Commission controls wholesale distribution and oversees local ABC boards.) In other words, it's like New Hampshire.

11. Ohio (Appoints businesses to sell liquor, as agents of the state, for a commission; these stores have a monopoly on sales of beverages with an alcohol content equal to or greater than 21.5% ABV [43 proof]. Beer, wine, mixed alcoholic beverages, and "low proof" alcohol are sold by the aforementioned contract liquor agencies as well as by businesses [bars, restaurants, convenience stores, and gasoline/convenience store retailers] which have been issued an annual permit to sell. Privileges [such as sale for carryout only or for consumption on the premises] and hours during which sales are allowed are dependent on the terms of the permit.) In other words, private businesses sell beer and wine.

12. Oregon (Beer and wine can be sold in supermarkets and convenience stores; other spirits must be sold in liquor stores operated and managed by state-appointed liquor agents who act as independent contractors under the supervision of the OLCC.) In other words, it's like New Hampshire.

13. Pennsylvania (All liquor stores [wine and spirits] are run by the state. Malt beverages are sold in case lots by licensed beer retailers (known as "distributors") and in smaller quantities by on-premise establishments.) IN OTHER WORDS, THE STATE CONTROLS EVERYTHING.

14. Utah (all beverages over 3.2% ABW [4.0% ABV] are sold in state-run stores, Utah code 5(a)(i))[6] In other words, except for 3.2% beer, THE STATE CONTROLS EVERYTHING.

15. Vermont (Liquor stores are state-contracted and licensed) In other words, it's like Maine.

16. Virginia (Beer and wine ≤14% ABV sold at supermarkets and convenience stores; all liquor stores are run by the state) In other words, it's like Idaho.

17. West Virginia (Does not operate retail outlets; maintains a monopoly over wholesaling of distilled spirits only.) In other words, it's like Michigan; consumes buy from privately-owned businesses.

18. Wyoming (Does not operate retail outlets). In other words, as in most states, the retail outlets are private businesses.

/ / / / /

EVERY state issues licenses to retailers and wholesalers operating within their state -- presuming that private companies are allowed; and typically, retailers can only buy from state-licensed wholesalers. In that regard, all 50 states have some "control" over sales. But no state is as tightly controlled as the absolute monopoly run by the State of Pennsylvania . . . though Utah is a close second.